Machine for hot forming scale free metallic articles



Jan. 14, 1964 H. w. GRONEMEYER 3,117,328

MACHINE FOR HOT FORMING SCALE FREE METALLIC ARTICLES Original Filed March 25, '19s? 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmvrozc HERBERT W GRONE'MEVER ATTORNEY Jan. 14, 1964 H. w. GRONEMEYER ,3

MACHINE FOR HOT FORMING SCALE FREE METALLIC ARTICLES Original Filed rch 25, 1957 a Sheets- Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

HERBER T W. GRONEMEVER BY E M A TTORNEY Jan. 14, 1964 H. w. GRONEMEYER 3, 7,

MACHINE FOR HOT FORMING SCALE FREE METALLIC ARTICLES 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed March 25, 1957 he? m 55 INVENTOR.

HERBERT M. GRONEMEVER ATTORNEY Jan. 14, 1964 H. w. GRONEMEYER 3,117,328

MACHINE FOR HOT FORMING SCALE FREE METALLIC ARTJECLES 8 SheetsSheet 4 Original Filed March 25, 1957 INVENTOR.

HERBER T W GRONEMEYER A TTORNEY Jan. 14, 1964 H. W. GRONEMEYER MACHINE FOR HOT FORMING SCALE FREE METALLIC ARTICLES 8.Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed March 25, 1957 INVENTOR.

HERBERTYM. GRONEMEVER BY A rromvsr Jan. 14, 1964 H. w. GRONEMEYER 3,117,328

MACHINE FOR HOT FORMING SCALE FREE METALLIC ARTICLES Original Filed March 25, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INV EN TOR.

HERBERT W. GRONEMEVER ATTORNEY Jan. 14, 1964 H. w. GRONEMEYER 7,3 8

MACHINE FOR HOT FORMING SCALE FREE METALLIC ARTICLES Original Filed March 25, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 ($49- 13. Q INVENTOR.

HERBERT w. GRONEMEVER ATTORNEY 1964 H. w. GJRONEMEYER 3,117,328

MACHINE FOR HOT FORMING SCALE FREE METALLIC ARTICLES Original Filed March 25, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 tg 1G7. INVENTOR.

HERBERT J4. GRONEMEVE'R ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofilice 3,11%328 Patented Jan. 1 1954 3,117,323 MAGIFNE FOR HUI FGRMING SCALE FREE RIETALLIF, ARTICLES Herbert W. Gronemeyer, Kansas (Pity, Mo assignor to Arman Steel tierporation, a corporation of Ohio Sriginal application l t far. 25, i957, Ser. No. 643,188, new Patent No. 2,965,969, dated Dec. 27, 1960. Divided and this application Jan. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 2,889

2 (Iiaims. (Cl. iii-76) My invention relates to a machine for hot forming metallic articles and is a division of my application Serial No. 648,188, filed March 25, 1957, on Method and Ap paratus for Hot Forming Metallic Articles, patented December 27, 1960, No. 2,965,960.

It is a particular purpose of my invention to provide a machine for making scale free metallic articles by a hot forging method. In formin articles by a hot forging method from rod or bar-like metal stock, the heating of the stock to a forging heat causes the formation of scale on the stock. It is highly desirable to remove the scale from the stock before introducing the stock to the forging dies in order to produce a more satisfactory product and to avoid damage to the dies by the hard scale. My improved machine removes the scale from the stock prior to shaping the same by pressure between dies, without the necmsity of providing a large amount of apparatus for holding slugs from which the articles are formed, as has been necessary with previously known machines that provide scale free blanks for forging articles between dies. My invention is applied to a standard type of forging machine now used for forging articles from slugs sheared from rod-like members involving the addition of only simple apparatus thereto, that can be easily incorporated in the design of a machine of this character.

In order to remove the scale from the heated stock in a plastic condition suitable for forging and have the stock free from scale during the forging operation, or operations, the scale must be removed while the stock is still in a plastic condition suitable for forging and the forging operation must be carried out without any reheating of the blank. In machines in which a slug is cut or sheared from the rod-like or similar stock that has been heated to a forging heat and scale removed therefrom after shearing off the slug, rather complex apparatus is required to handle the slug during the scale removal and forging operations. By my improved apparatus all such complex handling means is eliminated. My improved apparatus for forming an article of a definite shape and size by a hot forging method from a scale free blank is generally of the character of the standard forging machine for forging objects that are forged from slugs cut from bar or rod stock fed to the machine. The usual feeding means for such bar or rod stock is provided in my improved machine, but instead of merely feeding the stock through a suitable guiding means to shearing dies, gripping means is provided between the feeding means and an abutment, that is provided on a plunger, that acts both as means to upset the stock and as means for limiting the feeding movements of the stock through the gripping means.

The above referred to plunger has two alternative posi tions, in one of which it acts as a stop member for gauging the amount of stock to be operated on. Said plunger is movable from said position in which it acts as a stop member to an alternative position to upset the stock which is located between the gripping means and the plunger, the machine being so constructed and arranged that the gripping means is firmly holding the stock, that is engaged thereby, against any endwise movement during the upsetting operation.

In the alternative position, the movable plunger member is in enga ement with the upset stock so as to aid in holding it in position as the shearing dies, one of which is carried on the face of the gripping means nearest the plunger, operate on the same to shear off the upset portion of the stock, one of the shearing dies in cooperation with a holding finger moving the sheared ofi slug to suitable forging dies, the abutment on the plunger remaining in engagement with the upset portion of the stock until after the movable shearing die has moved the slug formed from the upset portion away from the shearing position, the plunger then returning to its first position.

It is specifically a purpose of my invention to provide a machine of the above mentioned character in which the feeding means feeds the stock in a horizontal direction and the stock is held with a free or unconfined portion thereof projecting from the gripping members in a horizontal position; with the end thereof in engagement with the plunger that provides an abutment for limiting the feeding movement of the stock, and to squeeze the portion of the stock between the gripping means and the abutment to upset it while in this horizontally extending position and the sides thereof are free or unconfined, to permit the scale to drop downwardly out of contact with any of the moving parts of the upsetting and slug forming mechanism. Suitable means is provided for operating the feeding means, gripping means, plunger and shearing means in properly timed relation so as to gauge a length of the stock from one end thereof, upset it, shear it, and feed it to suitable forming dies.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description of the drawings proceeds. I desire to have it understood, however, that I do not intend to limit myself to the particular details shown or described, except as defined in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a forging machine to which my improvements have been applied.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the machine, showing the gripping means, plunger, shearing means and forging dies partly broken away, the parts being in the position that these assume before the stock has been fed lengthwise through the gripping means.

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the position of the parts after the stock has been moved through the gripping means into engagement with the plunger, but before the gripping means has closed.

FIG. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the position of the parts after the gripping means has closed into stock gripping position and the plunger remains in its gauging position.

FIG. 7 is a section taken on the line '7'7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the gripping means in closed position and the plunger moved to its position of closest approach to the gripping means, with the slug formed between said gripping means and said plunger.

FIG. "9 is a section taken on the line 9-% of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the position of the parts after the upset slug has been sheared off and is being moved toward nut forming dies.

FIG. 11 is a section taken on the line i1l1 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the position of the parts for delivery of the scale free slug to the forging dies, which may be the first pair of a plurality of pairs of such dies, dependent upon the article that is to be formed.

FIG. 13 is a section taken on the line l313 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the parts in the position which they assume when the dies have 3 completed the forging operation performed thereby on the slug,

FIG. is a section taken on the line 15l5 of FIG. 14, and

HG. 16 is a fragmentary detail view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the jump finger and means for moving it out of position between the forming dies.

Referring in detail to the drawings, my invention is shown as being applied to a iforging machine of the particular character shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, which embodies typical standard movements. Such a machine is provided with a heavy frame 2i), which is provided with suitable bearings for a main shaft 25.1, which is provided with a suitable driving pulley 22 driven by any suitable means, as by means of a plurality of belts 23. Mounted on the shaft 21 is a suitable crank disk 24, on which a crank pin 25 is mounted for suitable adjustment toward and away from the center of rotation thereof so as to vary the throw of the crank as may be desired. A connecting rod 26 extends from the crank pin 25 to a. ratchet mechanism 27, which is provided with a suitable pawl, or pawls, 28 for driving the shaft on which the pinion 29 is mounted, in a suitable direction, an amount determined by the throw of the crank 24, intermittently, so as to rotate the gears 3d, and thus the shafts 31 intermittently in the sme direction, which is a direction such as to rotate the feed rolls 32 and 33 in a direction :to feed a bar-like member 34 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1. It is to be understood that this feeding mechanism is of a standard character and that the gear 29 drives suitable gearing to rotate a pair of shafts, similar to the shafts 31, in the opposite direction thereto, to rotate feed rolls below the feed rolls 32 and 33, paired therewith, in a proper direction to cooperate with the feed rolls 32 and 33 to feed the stock 3'4- in the direction indicated.

A pair of grooved gripping members 35 and 36 is provided on the machine. The gripping member 35 is mounted in fixed position on the frame 26 The corresponding member 36, which constitutes the movable gripping jaw of the pair, is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement between a pair of guides 37 provided on the frame 29, said movement being: transversely of the direction of feed of the stock '34. In order to hold the jaw 36 properly aligned with the jaw 35, a pair of guide ribs 38 is provided on the frame, that engage in suitable guide grooves in the movable gripping jaw 36. Said movable gripping jaw is reciprocated between a position in which the gripping means is open, so that the stock can slide therethrough, and a position in which it is in tight gripping engagement with the stock so as to hold it against any endwise movement while the operations carried out by the machine described below take place.

The reciprocating movements of the movable gripping jaw 36 are obtained by means of a slide 3?, which is guided in its sliding movements by means of the guide ribs 49 and the walls dd of the aideway in the frame of the machine, said slide having a rod 42 pivotally connected therewith at one end, said rod being pivotally connected with the toggle links 43 and 44-, one of which is pivotally mounted at '45 on the frame and the other of which is pivoted on the slidable gripping jaw 36 at 46. The slide is provided with a suitable opening 47 therein, in which a pair of rollers 48 and 5-9 is journalled, said rollers being engaged by a cam 5t} mounted on the shaft 21, which is of suitable shape to move the gripping jaw 36 toward and away from the jaw 35 and to hold said jaw 36 in stock gripping relation to the jaw 35 for a desired interval after having moved into gripping relation thereto. in the position of the parts shown in FIG. 1 the jaws 35 and 36 are separated so as to be in open position to permit endwise movement of the stock through the same. The toggle mechanism only moves the jaw 36 a relatively short distance, but due to the character of said toggle mechanism it firmly locks the jaw 36 in cooperative gripping relation to the jaw 35 when in its alternative position.

A plunger 51 having a flat end face 52 is mounted in a suitabie mounting member 53 provided on a slide 54 that is mounted in a suitable slideway 55 in the frame 2%),

said slideway being provided with guide ribs 56 engaging suitable grooves 57 in the slide to assure its accurate sliding movement toward and away from the gripping means 35 and 36. Said slide is provided with a suitable opening 58 therein that is provided with suitable mounting means for rollers 59 that engage a cam 65 mounted on the shaft 21 for moving said slide 54 and the piunger 51 in properly timed relation with respect to the jaw 36.

The feeding means feeds the stock 34 through a suitable opening 61 in the frame and through the gripping means 35 and 36 into engagement with the end wall 52 or" the plunger 51 when the jaws 35 and 36 are open, or in their separated position, such as shown in H6. 1, the stock 34 having engaged the end face 52 of the plunger 51 in the position of the parts shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2 it will be noted that the gripping jaw 35 has a groove 62 therein that has its axis extending in the direction of feed of the stock 34 and that the movable gripping jaw 36 has a similar groove 63 therein that is opposite the groove 62, said grooves being of such a curvature that these will firmly engage the stock 34 when the jaw 36 has moved into engagement with the jaw 35.

The stationary gripping member 35 is provided with a stationary shear blade 64, which is provided with a shearing edge portion 65 that cooperates with a co operating shearing edge 66 on a movable shear blade 67 that is mounted on a slide 68. The siide 68 is mounted between suitable guides 69 in the frame 29 and suitable guide ribs 7@ are provided, cooperating with grooves in the slide to guide it so that the shear blade 67 will be properly positioned relative to the shear blade 64. Said slide 68 is moved between its various positions by means of a slide 71 mounted between guideway '72 having guide ribs 73, operating in grooves in the slide 71, provided on the frame 2%. Said slide has an opening 74 therein, in which a pair of rollers 75 is mounted for rotation, said rollers engaging a cam '76 mounted on the shaft 21. A connecting rod '77 is p-ivotally connected with the slide at one end thereof and with the short arm 78 of a bell crank lever pivoted on the frame at 79 and having an arm db thereon that has an angular end portion 83 that is pivotally connected at 82. with the slide 68. The cam 76 is of such a character that the slide 68 is moved from a position in which it is spaced to the right of the stationary shear blade, as viewed in FIG. 1, into shearing engagement with said stationary shear blade 64, and past the position at which complete shearing takes place, beyond the shear blade 64 into a position to deliver the sheared off slug to forming mechanism, in a manner to be described below, and is then returned to its position to the right of the shear blade 64, for a repetition of its movements to and through shearing position.

The slide 83 on which is mounted a forming punch 84, is mounted between suitable guides 35 in the frame 20 and suitable guide ribs 86 are provided, cooperating with grooves in the slide 83 to guide it so that the forming punch 3 and other operating members carried thereby will be guided into proper position with respect to cooperating parts of the machine. The shaft 21. is provided with an ofiset portion 87, that is connected by means of crank arms 88 with said shaft, thus forming a crankshaft portion with which a pitman 89 is connected at one end thereof, the other end of the pitman 39 being mounted on a pivot pin 59d mounted on the slide 83.

A forming die 91 having a cavity 92, having the same shape as the punch 84, is mounted in a die block 136' on the frame 20. When the slide 83 moves so that the punch 34 approaches the die 91 the slug which has been moved to proper position between the punch 84 and a cavity 92 in the die 91 will be forced by the punch 84 into the cavity to form the shape desired by the cooperating punch 84 and die 91. In the drawings, the cavity is shown as being hexagonal and the punch as being hexagonal to form a hexagonal nut body.

The means for moving the slug from the shearing dies to the forming dies 34 and 91 is of a well known character used in forging machines of the character shown in FIG. 1. The movement is accomplished by means of the movable shear blade 67 and what is commonly known as a jump finger 93, which is a flat elongated member, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and other figures of the drawings, that has a hook shaped end portion 94 mounted on a pin 95 on an upstanding bracket 96 that is mounted in a well known manner on the frame 20. The finger 93 engages with one side of the slug that is formed from the rod-like stock, as shown in FIG. 11, so as to hold the slug in the recess 97 in the movable shear blade 67 as the shear blade 67 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 9, in which the shearing action thereof begins, to the position shown in FIG. 13, which is the position in which the slug is properly presented for forming between the punch 84 and the cooperating die member 91. The slide 68 is provided with a slot 98 to permit the movement of the shear blade to the position shown in FIG. 13, without interference with such movement by the plunger 51, which extends across the path of movement of the slide 68, as will be obvious from FIG. 1 of the drawings. The finger 93 is urged into engagement with the slug by means of a coil spring 99 connected at its opposite ends with said finger 93 and the bracket 96 and the movement of the finger 93 under the urging of the spring 99 is limited by a lug 100 projecting from the bracket 96. It will be noted that when the finger 93 encounters the punch 84 it is forced upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 15, where it will not any manner interfere with the cooperative action of the dies 84 and 91,

by engagement of the cam surface 131 on projection \132 on die holder 133 with the inclined face 134 on ear 135 on jump finger 93, as shown in FIG. 16.

In the form of machine shown, the nuts produced by the particular machine shown are made in two forming operations, the first of which is carried out by the cooperating dies 84 and 91. Means of a well know character is provided for ejecting the shape formed between the dies 84 and 91 from the cavity 92 of the die and presentin it to the second set of dies that completes the forming of the nut. The ejecting means is shown as being provided with a shaft 101 that is mounted in suitable bearings 102 on the frame 20, which has mounted thereon to oscillate therewith an upstanding arm 16'4- that has a forked upper end portion thereof in which the cross pin 165 on the ejector pin 103 is mounted. It will be obvious that as the shaft 1111 is oscillated back and forth in its bearings the ejector rod 193 will move from the position shown in FIG. 1 to a position to eject the article formed between the dies 84 md 91 seated in the cavity 92 therefrom and that when the shaft 11. 1 is oscillated or rocked in the opposite direction the ejector pin 193 will move back to the position thereof shown in FiG. 1. The oscillating movements of the shaft 101 are produced in a suitable manner, as by means of an ec centric 196, from which the rod 167 extends, which is provide-d with a forked end 1%, with which the depending arm 199 fixed on the shaft 1131 to move therewith, is connected.

The shape that has been formed between the dies 84 and 91 and ejected therefrom is transferred, as it is ejected, by means of a transfer cage 1 10, to the second set of dies shown in the form of machine illustrated in FIG. 1. The transfer cage 110 is moved back and forth between the position shown in FIG. 1 thereof and the position opposite the die 91 by suitable mechansm such as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, comprising a cam 111 on the shaft 21 engaged by a roller 112 on the link 113, which is longitudinally slidably mounted in guide ears 114 prcvided on the frame '20, and which is pivotally connected with a bell crank lever 1 15 that is p-ivotally mounted on the frame 211 and has a link 1 16 connected with the arm thereof that is angularly related to the mm of the bell crank lever to which the link 113 is connected, said link 116 connecting said bell crank lever with the transfer cage 110. A coil spring 117 is mounted between one of the ears 114 and a pin 1 13 projecting from the rodlike member 113 to hold the roller 112 in engagement with the surface of the cam 111 so that the roller 112 following the cam 1-11 will cause such movements of the above referred to means connecting the member 113 with the cage 110 that the cage will move in properly timed relation with the other operating mechanism to receive a formed member from the cavity 92 of the die 91 after the plunger 84 has moved away therefrom and will transfer it to the other set of dies shown in FIG. 1, which will now be described.

In the form of apparatus shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings the slide 83 is provided with a piercing die 119,

g which engages with the article formed between the dies 91 and 84 held by the cage 11%, so as to make an opening therethrough, the material punched out, being forced into the passage 12-1 in the die 12% from which it passes to a discharge opening 122 in the frame 20*. It will be obvious that in the operation of the machine shown in FIG. 1 the perforating punch die '119 will move into position to operate on the previously formed article mounted in the cage 1 14B simultaneously with the engagement of the die 84- with the slug that has been moved into position before the die 91, by means of the shear blade 67 in cooperation with the jump finger 93, and that accordingly the first forming operation on the slug is performed simultaneously with the second operation performed on the partly completed article that has been formed between the dies 84- and 91 and moved over into proper position for operation thereon by the perforating punch 119 by means of the transfer cage In the operation of my improved machine the stock would have the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 just prior to the beginning of a feeding movementby the feed rollers 3'2 and 33 and the rollers paired therewith. In this position of the parts, the plunger 51 is in proper position for the end wall 52 thereof to act as an abutment limiting the movement of the stock 3 so that the abutment 52 will act as gauging means of the length of stock that is to be operated on. The movable gripping jaw 36 in this position of the parts is spaced from the stationary gripping jaw 35 a sufficient distance that the stock 34 will slide through the jaws 35 and 36, the grooves 62 and 63 in said jaws in this position acting as guiding means for the stock directed toward the plunger 51.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 the position of the parts is that shown in FIG. 1, in which the stock has been moved by the feeding means so that the end thereof is in engagement with the abutment 52 provided by the end face of the plunger 51, and the jaw 36 still remains spaced from the jaw 35. It will be noted that in FIGS. 3 and 5 the jump finger 93 is held in spaced relation to the stock 3 6 by means of the stop member 11111 with which it engages. The stock 34 that is being fed has been heated to a forging heat prior to entry into the machine, this being accomplished in a well known manner ordinarily as the stock its being fed into the machine where the stock 34 is in the form of a continuous length that is fed from a reel to the machine. Also it will be noted that after the first piece of stock has been cut ofi the length that is being fed the end face 123 of the stock that is in engagement with the abutment 52 on the plunger 51 is freshly cut and scale free.

The next position of the parts is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in which the plunger 51 dwells in the position that it had when the stock was first fed into engagement with the end face thereof. However, instead of the movable gripping jaw 36 behig spaced from the stationary gripping aw 35 it has moved into firm gripping relation with respect thereto so as to firmly grip the stock 34 between the jaws 35 and 36 so that the amount of pressure that is to be exerted endwise on the stock to upset the same is insufficient to cause any endwise or lengthwise movement or" the stock 34 relative to the jaws 35 and 36. Accordingly the stock is gripped at a predetermined distance from the end 123 thereof when the parts are in this position, and a length 124 of said stock, extending from the end 123 thereof a predetermined distance to the gripping jaws 35 and 36, will be mounted in a horizontal position between the gripping means and the plunger 51, with all of the side surface thereof unconfined, and the portion 124 can thus be referred to as a free portion to distinguish from the portion thereof that is confined and held by the gripping jaws 35 and 36.

The next position of the parts is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings. The operating means for the plunger has now moved the plunger from its gauging position to its position in which the upsetting action performed thereby has been completed. During this movement the gripping jaws 35 and 36 remain in firm gripping engagement with the stock 34 and prevent any endwise movement of the stock or of the portion 124 thereof in the direction of movement of the plunger 51 as it upsets the portion 124, except that movement of the stock that takes place due to the squeezing or upsetting action that is carried out between the face 52 of the plunger 51 and the opposite faces of the gripping jaws 35 and 36. The upsetting action causes a bulging of the length 124 of the stock that protrudes from the jaws 3S and 36 to form an enlargement 125, which is of a'definite s ne, and to crack the scale off the side walls of the projecting portion 124 as it changes in shape to the biscuit-like form it has after being upset. When the upsetting action is completed by the completion of the movement of the plunger 51 to its nearest position of approach to the gripping jaws 35 and as the lateral expansion of the material in the length 124 of the stock causes it to engage with the jump finger 93, moving it slightly away from the stock as shown in FIG. 9, so that said jump finger will be yieldingly engaging the bulged portion 125, or biscuit, formed on the end of the stock.

With the plunger 51 still in the position that it had when the upsetting action thereof was completed, and the gripping jaws still in their stock gripping position, the movable shear blade 67 is moved from the position there- :of shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 inclusive, past the cooperating stationary shear blade 64 so as to cause the upset or bulged portion 125 to be sheared oil the end of the stock 34 at the face of the gripping jaw 35 directed toward the plunger 51. In FIG. 10 the position of the parts is that in which the bulged portion on the end of the stock, that has been formed by upsetting the extending portion thereof that projected from the gripping jaws, has been completely separated from the stock 34, forming the slug or biscuit 126.

'The movable shear blade 67 is not halted in the position shown in FIG. 10, but moves continuously from the position shown in PEG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 1'3, moving continuously to the left from the first position referred to, to the last position referred to, past the shear 'blade 64 to shear the upset or bulged portion 125 d the stock 34, and carries the resulting scale free slug or biscuit 126 into position to be acted on by the cooperating die members 34 and 91. It will be noted that the plunger 51 remains in engagement with the enlarged portion 125 until after it has been completely separated from the stock 3 3 and is confined between the jump finger 93 and the recess in the movable shear blade 67 to be transported into the position between the dies and 91.

After the resulting biscuit or slug 126 has cleared the plunger 51, the plunger moves back to its initial position to serve as gauging means for the next length of stock that is to be fed by the feeding means through the gripping jaws, w ich at that time have separated so as to be in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. After the biscuit or slug 1.26 has been moved to the position shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 the punch die is moved toward the die 91 from the position shown in FIG. 12, to the position shown in FIG. 14 and during such movement the forming punch or male die 84 moves the jump finger out of the way into the position shown in FIG. 15, by engagement of cam 132 on die holder 133 with inclined surface 134- on the jump finger 93 permitting the forming punch or male die 84 to move into the position with relation to the die 91 to squeeze the biscuit between said dies into the hexagonal shape desired. This hexagonal member formed from the biscuit or slug 125 is of a definite predetermined size because the slug or biscuit is of a definite predetermined size, having been made from a definite predetermined length of material 124, as explained hereinbefore. After the die or punch 84 has engaged the slug to move it into the recess in the die 91, the movable shear blade 67 starts to move back to its original position, which is that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and moves continuously from the position shown in FIG. 13 to the position shown in FIG. 3, In FIG. 15 this movement has already commenced. After the punch or die member 34 has moved into its final forming position with respect to the die hi, it is withdrawn, and upon withdrawal of the punch or die 84 and return of the same toward its original position, the ejector rod 163 moves to eject the formed article from the cavity 92 of the die 91, the transfer cake in the meantime, having moved over into position to receive the ejected hexagonal member and immediately thereafter returns so as to be in a position in proper alignment with the perforating die 11% to complete the operations on the hexagonal member that has been formed between the dies 84- and 91, it being, of course, understood that the second hexagonal member is being formed between the dies 34 and 91 as the perforating punch 119 acts on the previously formed hexagonal article. As the dies 84 and 91 are forming the hexagonal member between the same, the movable shear blade 67 is returning to its original position, that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and as soon as this movement is completed the feeding means feeds the end of the stock 34, where it has been sheared olf in the formation of the slug 126, into engagement with the end wall 52 of the plunger 51, and the series of operations shown in FIGS 4 to 14 inclusive, are repeated to provide a scale free blank or slug, that is fed into position for the next forming operation of the cooperating forming dies 84 and 91.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for forming an article from rod-like metal stock heated to a plastic state, means for gripping said stock and holding the same in a horizontal position, a plunger mounted for horizontal movement toward and away from said gripping means between two alternative positions with the end thereof in spaced relation to said gripping means, said plunger having a fiat wall extending completely across the end face thereof and providing an abutment, means for alternately opening and closing said gripping means, means for feeding said stock lengthwise horizontally through said open gripping means with the end thereof into engagement with said abutment while said plunger is in its position away from said gripping means, means for closing said gripping means to hold said stock from endwise movement after engagement of said stock with said abutment, the portion of said stock between said end wall of said plunger and said gripping means having its side periphery free, means for moving said plunger endwise toward said gripping means to its alternate position while said gripping means is held closed, the spacing between said plunger in said alternate position and said gripping means being such as to upset the portion of said stock mounted between said abutment and said gripping means only suificiently to bulge said free side periphery and crack the scale formed by the forging heat, means for returning said plunger to its first position, said plunger moving means providing for holding said plunger in said alternate position for a predetermined interval, a stationary shear blade mounted on said gripping means, a movable shear blade cooperating therewith and means for moving said movable shear blade across said stationary shear blade with said plunger in its alternate position and said abutment in engagement with said upset stock.

2. In a machine for forming an article from rod-like metal stock heated to a plastic state, means for gripping said stock and holding said stock in a horizontal position, comprising a pair of elongated jaws having longitudinally extending horizontal grooves therein of a diameter substantially that of said stock, a flat faced abutment spaced horizontally from said gripping means, said abutment and gripping means being relatively horizontally movable toward and away from each other between two alternative positions in horizontally spaced relation to each other, means for alternately feeding said stock lengthwise horizontally through said open gripping means with the end thereof into engagement with said abutment while said abutment and gripping means are in their relative position away from each other, means for closing said gripping means to hold said stock from endwise movement relative thereto after engagement of said stock with said abutment and confine the portion of said stock located between said jaws completely thereby, with the portion thereof between said abutment and gripping means having its side periphery free, means for relatively moving said abutment and said gripping means to their alternate relative position after said gripping means has closed, said gripping means being held closed during said relative movement of said abutment and gripping means to their alternate relative position, the spacing between said abutment and said gripping means in said alternate relative position being such as to upset the portion of said stock mounted between said abutment and gripping means only suificiently to bulge said free side periphery thereof and crack the scale formed by the forging heat, and means for relatively moving said gripping means and abutment into their relative position away from each other, said means for relatively moving said gripping means and abutment providing for holding said gripping means and abutment in said alternate relative position for a predetermined interval, a stationary shear blade mounted on said gripping means, a movable shear blade cooperating therewith and means for moving said movable shear blade across said stationary shear blade with said abutment and gripping means in their alternate relative position and said abutent in engagement with said upset stock.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 376,673 Mutimer Jan. 17, 1838 1,207,948 Long Dec. 12, 1916 1,832,168 Wilcox Nov. 17, 1931 2,698,950 Haandel Jan. 11, 1955 2,779,955 Curtis Feb. 5, 1957 2,925,610 Friedman Feb. 23, 1960 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR FORMING AN ARTICLE FROM ROD-LIKE METAL STOCK HEATED TO A PLASTIC STATE, MEANS FOR GRIPPING SAID STOCK AND HOLDING THE SAME IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION, A PLUNGER MOUNTED FOR HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID GRIPPING MEANS BETWEEN TWO ALTERNATIVE POSITIONS WITH THE END THEREOF IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID GRIPPING MEANS, SAID PLUNGER HAVING A FLAT WALL EXTENDING COMPLETELY ACROSS THE END FACE THEREOF AND PROVIDING AN ABUTMENT, MEANS FOR ALTERNATELY OPENING AND CLOSING SAID GRIPPING MEANS, MEANS FOR FEEDING SAID STOCK LENGTHWISE HORIZONTALLY THROUGH SAID OPEN GRIPPING MEANS WITH THE END THEREOF INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ABUTMENT WHILE SAID PLUNGER IS IN ITS POSITION AWAY FROM SAID GRIPPING MEANS, MEANS FOR CLOSING SAID GRIPPING MEANS TO HOLD SAID STOCK FROM ENDWISE MOVEMENT AFTER ENGAGEMET OF SAID STOCK WITH SAID ABUTMENT, TH EPORTION OF SAID STOCK BETWEEN SAID END WALL OF SAID PLUNGER AND SAID GRIPPING MEANS HAVING ITS SIDE PERIPHERYL FREE, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PLUNGER ENDWISE TOWARD SAID GRIPPING MEANS TO ITS ALTERNATE POSITION WHILE SAID GRIPPING MEANS IS HELD CLOSED, THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID PLUNGER IN SAID ALTERNATE POSITION AND SAID GRIPPING MEANS BEING SUCH AS TO UPSET THE PORTION OF SAID STOCK MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID ABUTMENT AND SAID GRIPPING MEANS ONLY SUFFICIENTLY TO BULGE SAID FREE SIDE PERIPHERY AND CRACK THE SCALE FORMED BY THE FORGOING HEAT, MEANS FOR RETURNING SAID PLUNGER TO ITS FIRST POSITION, SAID PLUNGER MOVING MEANS PROVIDING FOR HOLDING SAID PLUNGER IN SAID ALTERNATE POSITION FOR A PREDETERMINED INTERVAL, A STATIONARY SHEAR BLADE MOUNTED ON SAID GRIPPING MEANS, A MOVABLE SHEAR BLADE COOPERATING THEREWITH AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MOVALBE SHEAR BLADE ACROSS SAID STATIONARY SHEAR BLADE WITH SAID PLUNGER IN ITS ALTERNATE POSITION AND SAID ABUTMENT IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID UPSET STOCK. 